100 Novels by 100 Irish Novelists

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When planning for Ireland Month, I brought together a list of 100 books by 100 Irish authors, both out of interest for myself and to give anyone thinking of taking part some inspiration for what to read.

I thought 100 might be a little much so cut it down to 50, however since publishing it yesterday, I think a lot of really good books by a lot of really good authors (particularly female authors) are missing from the list so I’ve decided to reinstate my original 100!

In compiling this list, I tried to pick only one book from each author, so there is no Finnegan’s Wake because there is Ulysses, no Brooklyn because there is Nora Webster. Obviously a list spanning four centuries is going to have some omissions, so if I’ve left out anything obvious do let me know! I’ve linked each title up to it’s Goodreads page so you can get some further information on the books if you are interested in reading them.

In the interest of disclosure, out of the 100, I have only read 35 but have at least 40 of them in the 746, so I’ve some catching up to do!

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This is exciting! Lists of Irish authors are always a bit of a surprise because there are so many (particularly earlier authors) who just moved to England and spent their whole lives there–one forgets that Sterne was Irish, for instance, or Wilde. And later authors too–I’ve always associated Iris Murdoch with Oxford, totally forgetting that her family came over from Ireland when she was very young. I wonder if there’s some sort of unspoken divide in the Irish writing community: those who stayed vs. those who left.

I too was surprised to learn that some of these authors were Irish. As you say, there will always be things left out of any list, but I want to recommend the book that I read for Ireland and really loved- At Swim, Two Boys by Jamie O’Neill.

Great list – and very educational. Glad I wasn’t the only one surprised at the some of the names. I was looking for Bernard MacLaverty – Cal is a great book. I read all Joan Lombard’s Maggie books, and loved the TV series, when I was about 12 – they were set in the Highlands, and Glasgow, so I just assumed she was Scottish! Oops!

Reblogged this on The Fluff Is Raging and commented:
Get reading! cathy at 746 Books has put together a list of a hundred novels by a hundred irish novelists to help you prepare for Ireland Month (March).

Thanks for taking time to compile the list. Some I have already read, but decided to pick a couple an put them on my Kindle. It guarantees that sooner or later I will get them read. Sort of like that pile of books that used to sit next to my bed, except I seem to do better getting them read than I did when it was a pile of real touch-n-feel books.

Wow, this is such a great list! I always want to read more Irish works, but somehow I never actually do. Mind you, I haven’t even read any Tana French and she is considered one of the best crime fiction writers nowadays. I’m bookmarking this for future reference. Thank you for the hard work of putting this list together, Cathy.

Thanks Elena, I had fun putting it together. There is a lot of great crime writing coming out of Ireland lately, I’ve read 3 Tana French and they were all excellent. Maybe you could read one in March and link up to my Read Ireland Month? 😉

A great list, best start compiling my Irish reads for March too, have already read one this year by Nuala Ní ChonchúirThe Closet of Savage Mementos since I’ve been following the Irish Times Book Chub, love to see what the Irish themselves are reading too.

I was interested to see that you had ‘The Big Chapel’ on your list. Liberties Press (where I work) republished it in 2008 – and we have chosen to read this book for the next meeting of the Liberties Press book club (March 7). I haven’t started it yet but I’m looking forward to it. Actually I think we republished the Leland Bardwell as well, but it’s not in print at the moment. I can recommend ‘Go Down Langrish’ which I read a few years ago. Very engrossing.

Hi Chris, I didn’t realise you worked there! I probably know Kilroy more for his plays than his novels. It’s interesting you mention Leland Bardwell, I find her story to be so intriguing but NOBODY mentions her work at all. I’ll be reviewing Mother To A Stranger next month.

HA! I have Skippy Dies (reading now), The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, Troubles, Haunted Ground, and Nora Webster on my TBR “piles” right now! I can participate in Reading Ireland Month, and I didn’t even know it! Yea!